On August 1, 2014, during a Team USA intrasquad scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Paul George, then a rising star for the Indiana Pacers, suffered a gruesome compound fracture of his right leg.
With 9:33 left in the fourth quarter, George chased down James Harden on a fast break. As he leapt to contest the layup, his right leg collided awkwardly with the stanchion behind the basket. The impact was immediate and horrifying, his leg bent at an unnatural angle, and players, coaches, and fans were visibly shaken.
Paul George just injured himself in the Team USA Basketball Showcase. pic.twitter.com/xx7CWe1Jxt
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 2, 2014
The game was stopped instantly. Coach Mike Krzyzewski gathered players at midcourt and announced the cancellation of the remainder of the scrimmage. The arena fell into a stunned silence, broken only by chants of “U-S-A” and “Paul! George!” as he was stretchered off the court.
George was rushed to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, where he underwent successful surgery to repair a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula. The procedure lasted two hours and involved placing a pin in his leg to stabilize the injury.
The NBA community rallied around George. Teammates, rivals, and fans flooded social media with messages of support. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement expressing the league’s concern and solidarity with George and his family.
Despite the severity of the injury, George’s resilience became the story. He missed most of the 2014–15 season but returned to the court in April 2015, defying expectations.
